NBA rumors: Luka Doncic's ball-dominant style deters players from Mavs
Luka Doncic has firmly planted his flag in the 2024 MVP race. He is a one-man wrecking crew on offense, obliterating defenders with arrhythmic handles, impressive finishing strength, and effortless touch. The Dallas Mavericks are 31-23 with room to improve after a busy trade deadline. On the surface, there aren't many better destinations for free agents or trade candidates in search of a chance to win.
That said, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective Podcast, there is potential holdup for players around the league: Doncic's ball-dominant style. There are NBA players who don't want to share the court with Doncic because of how often he handles the rock.
"As great of a player as Luka is, and we just talked about him being one of four legit MVP candidates this year, he is as ball-dominant as any player in the league, and there are guys around the league, I'm sure you guys have both talked to players, who don't necessarily want to play with Luka because of that."
That is a harsh reality the Mavs will face as Mark Cuban and the front office attempt to build a contender around Doncic. Dallas managed to convince Kyrie Irving to stick around long term, but Irving's options were limited for self-inflicted reasons. The Mavs attempted to land Kyle Kuzma at the trade deadline, but he asked the Wizards front office to hold off because of "misaligned timelines." Maybe we can read between the lines here. Kuzma enjoys a major role in Washington — a role he simply wouldn't maintain as Luka's running mate in Dallas.
Doncic is averaging 34.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 9.6 assists on .491/.379/.775 splits in 37.6 minutes for the Mavs. His 35.7 percent usage rate currently leads the NBA. While Doncic can make life easier on teammates with his unmatched gravity and preternatural gift for passing, he dribbles a lot. It's not terribly dissimilar to the James Harden condumdrum in Houston, and it's clear players around the league are taking note.
NBA rumors: Spurs, Hawks discussed Trae Young trade prior to deadline
The San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks were both active leading up to the NBA trade deadline. For Atlanta, there was speculation aplenty about a potential Dejounte Murray trade, But, according to the latest report from Howard Beck of The Ringer, the Hawks also discussed the framework of a Trae Young deal with the Spurs.
"'He’s available,” said a second Eastern Conference exec. “I think they would love to trade Trae,” a Western Conference exec said of the Hawks, who are 24-30 and again slotted for the play-in tournament.'"
While the trade deadline as a whole was relatively uneventful, it's clear we are in store for a hectic and transformative offseason. Young isn't the only major star slated to potentially change teams, but he is certainly one of the best in terms of value. At 25 years old, Young is under contract through 2025-26. He also has an Eastern Conference Finals appearance under his belt. Young is currently averaging 27.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 10.9 assists on .428/.373/.857 splits in 36.6 minutes.
The Spurs would plainly benefit a ton from Young — maybe more than any other franchise. The pervasive storyline around San Antonio this season, aside from Victor Wembanyama's star ascent, is the lack of a proper playmaking apparatus around the reigning No. 1 pick. Wembanyama is the NBA's most potent lob threat, with a catch radius modern mathematics can barely account for. And yet, the Spurs don't really have a starting-level point guard.
In Young, San Antonio has a real chance to add the NBA's most dynamic pick-and-roll playmaker. Combining Wembanyama's vertical gravity at the rim with Young's pull-up threat and expert ball-handling manipulation? Well, that's borderline unfair. Wembanyama is also the perfect star to help offset Young's defensive limitations. It would be a symbiotic relationship.
The Spurs won't be the only team after Young in the offseason, but San Antonio can offer Atlanta its own picks from the Dejounte Murray trade, in addition to a spate of other quality assets. We've already heard that Young is open to the idea of playing with Wemby, so let the speculation begin in full.
NBA rumors: Kevin Durant reunion would interest Warriors
The Golden State Warriors checked in on LeBron James at the trade deadline. No deal came to fruition, but it's notable that Golden State is interested in a potential blockbuster addition to complement Stephen Curry. According to Anthony Slater on 95.7 The Game, the Warriors want a "legitimate star wing" next to their two-time MVP.
"If [LeBron James] has wandering eyes in the summer, or if Kevin Durant does or if Paul George is going to be a free agent at this point... the Warriors will be in on that conversation because I think they want a legitimate star wing next to Steph Curry."
👀 @anthonyVslater pic.twitter.com/whwg19frqA
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) February 14, 2024
Kevin Durant is the name that stands out, obviously. It would require fortuitous circumstances for the Warriors to even have a shot at Durant, but the mere possibility is fascinating to consider. Durant has shown no deep-rooted loyalty to the franchises he has played for. He left OKC to chase rings with the team he lost to in the playoffs. He went to Brooklyn as a business decision — to team up with Kyrie Irving and get out of the Golden State industrial complex. Then, when his Nets tenure stalled, he immediately put in a trade request and was moved to Phoenix. Now, early this season, we heard rumblings about Durant's frustration with the Suns' weak supporting cast.
The Suns have since turned the ship around, so to speak, and there's a decent chance Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal can muster a deep run in the West. But, the West is particularly loaded. At 32-22, the Suns are only one game above the play-in tournament. With Beal's injury history — not to mention Durant's own history — there is also significant downside risk with this Suns team. Nothing is guaranteed.
Durant is hyper-aware of his place in the NBA narrative, no matter how ardently he tries to tweet otherwise. He recognizes how going to Golden State harmed his reputation in certain circles, even if we collectively understand how hard it is to win multiple championships. Bolting from Phoenix after one full season because it didn't end well won't help the public's perception of Durant. Whether or not he cares enough to let that guide his decision-making at this point is another matter entirely.
The Warriors would vault back into the upper echelon of Western Conference contenders with Durant. Golden State would need to sacrifice a great chunk of their future assets to acquire a 35-year-old with a history of lower-leg injuries, but... he's Kevin Durant. If he says he wants to go back to the Bay Area, the Warriors probably make it happen. It's at least a fun hypothetical.